Michael Brissenden presents AM Monday to Friday from 8:00am on ABC Local Radio and 7:10am on Radio National. Join Elizabeth Jackson for the Saturday edition at 8am on Local Radio and 7am on Radio National.

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Monday 28 August 2000

AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs. It covers the stories each morning that the other current affairs teams follow for the rest of the day. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Controversial Defence Bill likely to pass today

The Senate will today debate legislation designed to give the Commonwealth wide ranging powers to send in troops during civil disturbances and security emergencies.

Queensland's Native Title Laws face decision

The Federal Opposition will today consider whether it approves Queensland Premier Beattie's proposed Native Title laws. The Opposition along with the Democrats rejected the Northern Territory's alternative regime in the Senate last year.

CSIRO to study ecological effects on GM crops

The contenders for the 2008 Olympics

Later today the IOC will announce which cities will be accepted as candidates for the 2008 summer Games. From an original list of 10, there are now four likely to make it through to the next round - Paris, Osaka, Bangkok and Beijing. Toronto is also thought to be in the running.

East Timor - one year since independence

This week East Timor celebrates the anniversary of its historic vote for independence. While the Territory is now largely peaceful, anti-independence militias remain a threat to peacekeeping forces. And the effects of the violence that they inflicted last year are still being unearthed.

Delimma for Melbourne football club president

Joseph Guttnick, the President of the Melbourne Football Club, is facing a bitter-sweet dilemma. As an Orthodox Jew, he strictly observes the Sabbath on Saturdays and he can't attend a game or watch it on TV. Yet his beloved Demons are playing in next Saturday's AFL grand final.

The 'Veneer' of democracy in Lebanon

The people of Lebanon have begun two weekend's of voting for a new parliament. And for those in the recently liberated south, it's the first chance to vote in three decades. But there's concern that the political system still only delivers a veneer of democracy after a campaign dominated by big dollars and Lebanon's big brother, Syria

The debate over jury room comments

The Sydney based talkback host John Laws will appear in the New South Wales Supreme Court today to face charges of allegedly soliciting a juror to talk about jury deliberations during a murder trial. If found guilty, the syndicated presenter could face up to seven years in jail.